8°F SW10mph SR0723 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God
Is not a matter of food and drink,
but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit;

Village peaceful

Coffee hot and strong

Day #7 for St Andrew’s Christmas Novena, Immaculate Conception Novena, Day #3 for Cardinal Burke’s Novena, and last but not least Happy St Nicholas Day.

Happy Birthday to PS… have a wonderful day.

Spell check is apparently off-line today so bear with me. Signal, is also giving me issues.

It looks like I’ll be in La Crosse today. Hopefully, it will not take all day. Copy jobs completed and delivered.

Today Bacci speaks on “Knowledge & Learning,” pg 490 of Meditations for Each Day. St. Paul says, “Let no one rate himself more than he ought” (Romans 12:3) and in 1Corinthians 8:1-2 he warns us that “knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies”. Similar warnings can be found in The Imitation of Christ “What doth it profit thee to dispute deeply about the Trinity, if thou be wanting in humility, and so be displeasing to the Trinity?” Please note it is not knowledge itself that is condemned but the abuse of knowledge. God has given each of us an intellect so that we may know the truth and investigate the mysteries of nature. This search for truth should bring us nearer to God. those we study for learning sake are simply curious. those who study to be better know are vain. Those who acquire knowledge to sell , to make money, or to gain honours are merchants of science and culture. There are others who cultivate science as an instrument in the service of their neighbour, these are motivated by charity. There are those who study in order to sanctify themselves, this is true wisdom. The thirst for knowledge should spring from an ardent desire to know God better in the beauty of his creation and the multiplicity of laws which govern. In knowing him better should bring deeper love of him. What is your motivation for knowledge?

Know you are prayed for.

7°F NW14mph SR0722 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Jeremiah 29:11

For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—
plans for your welfare and not for woe,
so as to give you a future of hope.

Village peaceful

Coffee good

Dr. visit was productive but inconclusive. Blood draw completed. New appointment set for next week in La Crosse. I really do want to get this taken care of and solutions found. Meanwhile, life continues.

The man’s vehicle is in the shop, brakes went out. Always something isn’t it.

Quite the weather last evening… almost whiteout conditions in several areas here on the ridge. Not lots of snow, just powerful winds blowing the powdered stuff around.

Day 6 of St Andrew Christmas Novena & the Immaculate Conception Novena. Day 3 for Cardinal Burke’s novena for America.

Today Bacci speaks to “The Contemplative and the Active Life” pg 489. Bacci advises that the contemplative life is not restricted to monks and nuns that it belongs to all of us. That it can be a privilege to be this way on one’s way to and from work/school/shopping where one can stop in and see Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He goes on to say avoiding contemplation is dangerous to the soul.

Book “Educated” by Tara Westover- spellbinding memoir. Even more so in Audio.

Relatively easy day today. Will be nice to have time at home. There is certainly enough to keep me busy.

Know you are prayed for.

23°F WNW26mph SR0721 SS1625

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Hebrews 6:19

This we have
as an anchor of the soul,
sure and firm,
which reaches into the interior behind the veil,

Village waking

Coffee good

St Andrews Christmas Novena (Day#5), Immaculate Conception Novena (Day#4), Luke Chapter 4, Cardinal Burke’s Rosary Novena (Day#2) are all good ways to being the day.

Bingo last night was great fun! Didn’t win a thing but had fun with M&V, S, B, & M. The plan is to go again on the 17th.

Dr appt this morning to address symptoms that keep popping up but always test out within normal range.

This morning Bacci speaks to True Love of Self. this can be found on pg 487 of his daily meditations. John 12:24-25 “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;r but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” leads us to believe that we are forbidden to love ourselves. But in what sense does Christ mean this? He is asking us to mortify our lower inclinations, deny our selfish ambitions, die to the world and prepare to lose life itself rather than offend God in any way. He is asking us to hate any perversion of our nature or our faculties. He is asking us to do His will rather than our own. He is asking us to Love God above anything else and to subjugate our thoughts, desires and affections to Him. He is asking us to get over ourselves for His sake and even sacrifice life for His honor and glory. He is telling us that anything that does not lead to Him is vain and useless. If we love God we can achieve our own perfect happiness. Our lives are not cluttered with obstacles that prevent us from walking in union with Christ.

Know you are prayed for.

18°F SSW11mph SR0719 SS1626

Morning Offering given– my day to pray for Cmom

Memory Verse – Job 12:12

So with old age is wisdom,
and with length of days understanding.

St Andrew Christmas Novena, Immaculate Conception Novena, Luke Chapter 3, Pray the Rosary

Village sleeps

Coffee good

Short night, two trips to the midwife, copy jobs completed (2). Laundry in both machines. Reflexology & Chiro today. Bingo tonight with DD#5.

The man is busy, busy upstairs with the ren-o stuff. Things are going to be so different up there when he is finished.

Today Bacci speaks about “Recollection”
The Holy Spirit places the following words on the lips of the prophet Jeremias (12:12) “With desolation is all the land made desolate, because there is none, that considereth in the heart” Dissipation is the mark of the worldly and of the mediocre. The worldling is dissipated because instead of seeking happiness in God, he looks for it in earthly pleasures and even in sin. The mediocre Christian, on the other hand, oscillates between God and the world. He fails to make a definite choice between virtue and sacrifice on one side and his own comfort and satisfaction on the other. The dissipated soul is absorbed in many things and has no time to reflect on the eternal truths or to think of God and of spiritual progress. As a result, it is incapable of solid virtue, or if it achieves this for a while it soon evaporates. good does not speak to the dissipated, but only to the recollected.

Know you are prayed for.

13°F NNW9mph SR0718 SS1626

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse–Hebrews 12:22

No, you have approached Mount Zion
and the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem,
and countless angels in festal gathering,

Village waking

Coffee good

Day 3-St. Andrew’s Christmas Novena & Immaculate Conception Novena

Politics... President Biden gave a full & unconditional pardon to his son Hunter. The pardon covers the tax & gun cases and all other crimes Hunter committed or may have committed in the past decade… so the question remains: do all Jan 6 people get a pardon? President Trump, does he get one too?

Wonderful day yesterday. Very relaxing and enjoyable. The Advent Altar is prepared and the Advent Table is set.

It was fun to clean out the altar and prepare the dining room for the season. Been a while since I’ve felt like decorating.

Today Bacci speaks about “The Blessedness of Those Who Suffer Persecution”
Matthew 5:9-12 “Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and, speaking falsely, saying all manner of evil against you, for my sake.  Rejoice and exult, because your reward is great in heaven.” It is comforting to know that any trouble and suffering done as long as it is endured for the love of God will be rewarded. 1 Peter 4:13 “Rejoice, in so far as you are partakers of the sufferings of Christ, that you may also rejoice with exultation in the revelation of his glory.”  It is good for us to sometimes suffer. These help us to humility and rid us of vain glory. Then we can more earnestly seek God. Implore the Holy Spirit to enlighten you and grant you serene joy.

Know you are prayed for.

6°F NW10mph SR0717 SS1626

Morning Offring given

Memory verse Psalm 63:5

I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.

Village sleeps

Coffee smooth

1^st Sunday of Advent
Fresh pork roast simmers in the slow cooker, I placed it there last evening before calling it a night. A wonderful day with my friend AS and her daughters. On the spur of the moment we traveled to Eau Claire to shop in the thrift stores there. We try to do this at least once a year to catch up with each other’s lives.

We begin the new liturgical year today. Today is the 2^nd day of St. Andrew’s Christmas Novena. It is time to dress your home altar for the Advent season. We light the 1^st (Prophecy/Hope) Advent Candle on our wreath. This candle reminds us of the hope Christ brings to the world and recalls the prophecies of the Messiah. Scripture to note: Micah 5:2, Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 9:6-7, Zechariah 11:12, Isaiah 61:1, Micah 3:8, Isaiah 35:5-6; 42:7; 53:5, 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Psalm 89:29, Isaiah 9:7, and more https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/top-40-most-helpful-messianic-prophecies

Begin your family tradition. If your family is just starting a tradition this is a perfect day to begin.

Know you are prayed for.

12°F WNW12mph SR0716 SS1627

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Psalm 41-2-4

Blessed the one concerned for the poor;
on a day of misfortune, the LORD delivers him.
3 The LORD keeps and preserves him,
makes him blessed in the land,
and does not betray him to his enemies.
4 The LORD sustains him on his sickbed,
you turn down his bedding whenever he is ill.

Village sleeps

Coffee perfect

Good Morning!
Today marks the “Feast of St. Andrew” the 1st Apostle. We stand at the end of the 23/24 liturgical year and at the beginning of the 24/25 liturgical year. Join me in beginning again to place “JESUS” at the head of your thoughts, your life, & your home. Please take a few moments to reflect on your past spiritual year. Jot down what you believe needs to change so that you can become a close intimate friend of Jesus. Today begins the St Andrew Christmas Novena. Once again, I challenge you to pray it. St. Andrew is Jesus’ 1st disciple (Matthew 4:18-20) We begin the novena on the feast of St. Andrew on November 30 and conclude on Christmas Eve. Tradition holds that we pray the novena 15 times daily (5-5-5, all at once, or spread throughout the day) for a particular intention. This being said, pray in a way that works best for you. Time needed: 5 minutes Pray this novena for 25 days.

Make the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Say the St. Andrew Christmas Novena prayer.
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God
was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,
and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

Name any intentions or other prayers you wish to share with God. Maybe consider your response to Jesus’s call to follow Him; just as he called on Andrew and Peter, he also calls on us to let go and surrender.

Conclude with the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If you’re traditionally praying this novena… Repeat the above steps 14x throughout your day.

Continue praying the novena daily through Christmas Eve!

Know you are prayed for.

16°F WNW14mph SR0715 SS1627

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse Luke 6:45

A good person
out of the store of goodness in his heart
produces good,
but an evil person
out of a store of evil
produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart
the mouth speaks.

Village sleepy and peaceful

Coffee good

Today we think of my B-i-l, David who would have been 69 had he lived. May he rest in peace.

It is also my day to pray for my online community. We’ve been together over 20 yrs. Great bunch of Catholic Women.

Arrived back home around 0100 this morning. A beautiful night of driving. Crisp, cool, air. Little traffic. No seen deer. 1 law enforcement officer the entire 6 hr trip. Gave me plenty of time to think about the wonderful day I had at S-i-l’s house. Truly loved her place, I could see her personality in every room.

Today, Bacci speaks on “The Blessedness of the Merciful” pg 479

Bacci tells us the mercy of God is infinite just as his justice is infinite. He goes on to say, that God’s mercy does not subtract from his justice, but is the fullness and the perfection of that justice. He tells us the merits we acquire derive from his gratuitous gift of grace, fusing together his mercy and justice in a wonderful harmony claiming our gratitude and fidelity. Sacred Scripture gives us many references to the mercy of God. One of which is Psalm 86:5 (NABRE) Lord, you are good and forgiving, most merciful to all who call on you. Psalm 85:5 (DR) For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee. _{Please note until recently the Psalms in the Catholic Bible were numbered differently than the Psalms in the Protestant Bible}.
Because of God’s mercy he requires us to be good and merciful to our neighbour. “Blessed are the merciful.” St. James tells us if we hope to receive God’s mercy, we must show mercy (James 2:12) We have often made ourselves God’s enemy by our sins. We have often deprived ourselves of divine grace. At these times God is merciful to us in granting our forgiveness and his friendship. These gifts of God oblige us to behave in the same manner to those who are in need by assisting them willingly and generously. Luke 6:3–38 Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit [is] that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. 35 But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful. 37 “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 38 Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Know you are prayed for.

21°F WNW12mph SR0714 SS1627

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse— Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

Village sleeps

Coffee strong

Birthday greetings to my sister Jeannette… Have a wonderful day!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

President’s 2024 Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/11/27/a-proclamation-on-thanksgiving-day-2024/

Nice day yesterday, thanks to the man taking my afternoon runs. Carwash quick and easy, 2 Goodwill stops, and some great finds at each one. I smile as I remember the drive back last evening from Iowa. As I picked up a couple to bring back, their outside cat (the one they had been trying to give away) wanted to get in the car. It wasn’t allowed. All loaded we stopped at the gate on the top of the drive, the passenger got out & back in and said “Did you see the cat?” I said “Back in your yard,” and he said, “I can hear it meowing.” Looks under the car, all sides, etc. can hear it, cannot see it. An hour later we stopped at PDC, used the facilities and I returned to the car. The guy in the truck (next to me) says “Did you see a cat?” I said, “No, did you?” He says “When I drove up there was one. I can hear it but can’t see it.” The couple returns to the car, smiling because the cat now sits under the open hood of the truck next to us, with the guy trying to get it to move.) Almost choking I waved and as we left we burst out laughing, thankful the cat survived the trip, was no longer under our car, and now has a new owner.

This morning we are off to Waterloo, WI to have dinner with K&C. Looking forward to the day. Early evening I will be returning 2 couples to Iowa. Who knows perhaps we will stop at PDC and pick up a cat.

Today Bacci speaks to “The Thirst for Justice” this can be found on page 478.
He tells us how Jesus commands us in the Beatitudes to seek justice (in the fulfillment of our obligations to God, to ourselves, and to our neighbor. He commands us to hunger & thirst for this justice, which is identical to holiness. When Christ tells us this he imposes on us the obligation of doing our very best to acquire the virtue of Christian justice which is the synthesis of all the virtues. We must be aware of laziness, apathy, tepidity, and mediocrity for our spiritual perfections must be continuous. There must be no hesitation or backsliding.

I am so not good about this– in fact, I of late have struggled with “acedia” (if you read me you know this). I am convinced this malady is the root of the unforgivable sin and it begins with the four things listed in italics/bold above.

Know you are prayed for.

19°F NE6mph SR0713 SS1628

Morning Offering given

Memory Verse–Deuteronomy 31:8

It is the LORD 
who goes before you;
he will be with you
and will never fail you or forsake you.
So do not fear or be dismayed.”

Village silent & chilly

Coffee strong

Busy day for me today and for the man.

Today Bacci addressed “The Blessedness of Those Who Hunger & Thirst for Justice” you can find it on page 476 of his Meditations for Each Day. Mt 5:6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. These words oblige us to seek justice in our actions if we desire the happiness which, Our Lord promises to the just. Justice is a Cardinal Virtue and obliges us to give every man his due. Mt 6:33 But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides. Justice in our relations with God demands that we adore, love, and obey Him. This is how we lay the foundation of all the virtues. We must also be just with ourselves. If passions rebel and dethrone reason or if reason revolts against God, degradation of the human nature, the triumph of sin, remorse, and spiritual ruin ensues. We must be just in our dealings with others. NO theft, homicide, detraction, calumny, or hatred of our neighbor. Difficult as it will be. We’ve got a long, and at times difficult (what may seem impossible) road to walk. Let us do that with Jesus.

Know you are prayed for.